Organisers who want to check the Fairtrade claim
You want to check exactly what the Fairtrade claim applies to for the biscuit you’ve chosen: the product, the cocoa or the chocolate. A retailer’s general sustainability claim isn’t the same thing.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Organisers who need to consider allergens
You’re handing out biscuits to children with different dietary requirements. So check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying.
Organisers who want to plan portions
You want to know how many suitable biscuits you can hand out before the party. Individually wrapped portions and homemade biscuits each call for a different plan.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check the Fairtrade claim and allergens for the exact variety. Then compare how the biscuits are packaged for handing out and how many portions will be suitable for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim | Check the exact packaging or product page to see whether Fairtrade is mentioned, and whether the claim applies to the biscuit, cocoa or chocolate. | If Fairtrade is my main requirement, I want to know exactly what the claim on this biscuit applies to. Around 31% of consumers would put this check first. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings for your chosen variety on the current packaging. | If guests have food allergies, I only want to hand out things that meet their stated dietary requirements. Around 31% of consumers would make this their first consideration. |
| Packaging for handing out | Check how many biscuits or individually wrapped portions are in a pack, or, if you’re baking, decide in advance on the size and preparation time. | If I want to hand out biscuits quickly during the party, I need to be able to plan the portions in advance. Around 25% of consumers would focus mainly on this. |
| Suitable quantity | Count your guests and compare this with the number of biscuits that are suitable for them after checking the Fairtrade claim and allergens. | For a small group, I don’t want to look only at the pack size, but at the number of suitable treats. For around 13% of consumers, this quantity would be the most important factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming certified cocoa means Fairtrade
Lidl Netherlands lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic as different forms of certification for its own-brand cocoa. So a general statement about certified cocoa doesn’t confirm that a particular biscuit contains Fairtrade cocoa.
Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the packaging or product page for the variety you’ve chosen.
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Relying on the brand name when checking allergens
The Verkade Chocorondjes and Lange Nekken described by Albert Heijn have different ingredients and allergen warnings. The fact that one variety is suitable doesn’t tell you anything about the other.
Read the label on the pack you’re actually handing out and take your guests’ dietary requirements into account.
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Counting only what’s in the pack
The quantity in a pack doesn’t automatically tell you how many suitable portions you have. The individual packaging and the allergens in your chosen biscuit also affect what you can hand out.
Count your guests first, then work out how many suitable biscuits or portions you need.
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Treating a product page as the final word
Ingredients and allergy information can change when a product is updated. If you have a strict Fairtrade requirement or a food allergy, the packaging you buy is what matters when checking the product.
Use the product page to help you make your choice, then read the label on the current packaging before handing anything out.
Brands and shops to consider
A brand or shop name doesn’t mean that every biscuit in its range carries a Fairtrade claim. Check the claim and food information for each variety you choose.
Verkade
Albert Heijn mentions Fairtrade milk chocolate in Verkade Chocorondjes and Fairtrade-certified cocoa in Lange Nekken. These product-specific descriptions make the varieties worth looking into.
- The Fairtrade claim is linked to specific varieties; according to Albert Heijn, Lange Nekken are individually wrapped in pairs.
- Chocorondjes and Lange Nekken have different allergens and warnings. Check the packaging of your chosen variety separately.
PLUS huismerk
PLUS lists products including Bokkenpootjes and Biscuit duo's cacao with a Fairtrade claim in its chocolate biscuits category.
- The category gives you specific product names to search for.
- Check the product information and label for the variety you choose; a category-level claim isn’t a substitute for checking the product itself.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff Speculoos could be a biscuit option if Fairtrade isn’t a requirement. The Albert Heijn product page described here doesn’t support a Fairtrade claim for this variety.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn’s product information lists wheat, soya and cereals containing gluten as allergens.
- Don’t treat this variety as a Fairtrade biscuit based on the product page mentioned here.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands distinguishes between Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification for its own-brand cocoa.
- This distinction can help you understand a specific claim about cocoa.
- The general cocoa policy doesn’t confirm a Fairtrade claim for a particular biscuit.
ALDI
ALDI Netherlands includes Fairtrade chocolate in its Fairtrade range. This can be a starting point if you’re looking at chocolate products.
- The shop’s information mentions Fairtrade for the chocolate category.
- This doesn’t mean a particular biscuit carries a Fairtrade claim; check the individual product.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are all the ingredients Fairtrade if a biscuit says it contains Fairtrade cocoa?
No. A claim about cocoa doesn’t automatically apply to the whole biscuit. Check the exact packaging to see which ingredients are covered by the Fairtrade claim. For example, the Bio+ Fair Chocolade Koekjes described by Jumbo listed dark chocolate and cane sugar separately.
Is a biscuit automatically Fairtrade if the supermarket buys certified cocoa?
No. A general claim about sourcing doesn’t confirm which certification applies to the biscuit you’ve chosen. Lidl Netherlands lists Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic as different options for its own-brand cocoa. So look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on the product you want to hand out.
Which allergens should I check in biscuits for a children’s party?
Check the allergens and any warnings on the current packaging of every variety you choose, taking your guests’ food allergies into account. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the mandatory labelling of 14 allergens; the chocolate biscuits mentioned here include milk, wheat and soya, among others.
How should I store chocolate or cocoa biscuits until the party?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn advises storing Verkade Chocorondjes in a cool, dry place and sealing the pack after opening; don’t assume this product-specific advice applies to other biscuits without checking.